Despite of using a much faster processor, the Asrock Ion 330HT-BD system consumed 28% less power than the Gigabyte GA-GC230D under load and 48% less at idle. The idle result was particularly impressive, with the Ion 330HT-BD consuming just 23 watts.

At idle or under load, the Asrock Ion 330HT-BD used four times less power than our Core i5 system. These figures are what make the Ion 330HT-BD the ideal HTPC.

The Gigabyte GA-GC230D was tested in a larger Mini-ITX case with larger fans, so we aren't surprised to find that it operated at lower temperatures than the Asrock system. Still, when compared to your typical ATX desktop system, the operating temperatures of the Ion 330HT-BD fall in the normal ranges. What's most important, the Ion 330HT-BD operates at near silent levels and when recording these results we struggled to tell if the system was even on.